QB Peyton Manning (14 Pro Bowls; 7 All Pros)
I’ve heard a few people who still believe that Peyton Manning will be in Denver next season, and technically his contract says he will be, but let me make this very clear: Manning may play football in 2016, but it won’t be in the orange and blue.
Manning is under contract for $21.5 million next season, but they’d only incur $2.5 million in dead cap if they cut him. Just like with Ware, that’s nearly $20 million in cap space Elway could use to help bolster a roster around Brock Osweiler.
And make no mistake, that’s exactly what Elway plans on doing: Building around Brock Osweiler.
Now, none of this means that Manning can’t play a role down the stretch of this season — honestly, I really wouldn’t be surprised if he does — but nothing he can do will bring him back to Denver for a fifth season. Either (a) he never regains his old form and the Broncos have no choice but to go onto Osweiler or (b) Manning comes back looking better than he has in a year, leads the Broncos on a playoff run and rides off into the sunset — let’s root for that one.
Whatever happens, though, it’ll have been one hell of a ride
